“God has turned my tears into hope”
For a long time, Miran, who lives in a remote village in Pakistan’s southeastern Sindh province, was trapped in a deepening cycle of poverty. Despite being married at a young age, she always wanted to see her family flourish. But over the years her husband's addictions and physical abuse brought immense suffering. As she struggled to care for her seven children alone, the heavy wounds she carried wore down her mental health, and hope for a better future began to slip away.
Tragically, this kind of situation is far too common. In many communities around the world, the rights of women and girls are routinely ignored, their voices silenced under the weight of systemic inequality.
Globally 35% of women experience gender based violence in their lifetime. In humanitarian contexts this rises to 70%.
After Miran’s husband developed cancer, she sold her most valuable possessions, to cover his medical care. He died three months later. The small government support Miran relied on stopped, and she gradually sank into debt.
“There were many days when my children and I had nothing to eat and no proper clothes to wear,” shares Miran.
Desperate to escape poverty, she asked local landlords to lease her some land to farm. Time after time she was turned away; no one believed a woman could manage the land. Finally, one landlord agreed, and she began to cultivate the property. But trapped in debt, her meagre earnings weren’t enough. Unable to cover her two eldest sons’ fees, she had to pull them out of school. With no safety net, Miran felt utterly alone in the fight for her family's survival.
But Miran was not forsaken.
When Tearfund’s local partner, The Diocese of Hyderabad began working with vulnerable families in her village, they met Miran. They listened closely to her story. They not only saw her struggle, but saw the immense worth God had created her with. Together they worked to ensure she was equipped with what she needed to break the cycle of poverty and realise her potential.
“I was trained as a Skilled Traditional Birth Attendant,” Miran shares. “I learned how to care for pregnant women, recognise danger signs, and refer mothers safely to health facilities. Today, I earn an income by serving women in my community, and people respect me because of the skills I have gained.”
The transformation Miran experienced happened because our partners offered more than just a short-term handout. They provided practical skills and resources while honoring her God-given dignity, equipping Miran not only to transform her family's life, but to lead change across her community.
“My life has changed beyond what I ever imagined,” Miran states proudly. “Today, I have a small piece of land to live on, a kitchen, a toilet, a borehole hand pump, and a kitchen garden that provides fresh vegetables for my family and even my neighbors. I have enrolled one daughter and one son back in school.”
This is restoration! Rooted in the abundance and grace of God, guided by wise partners, and carried by compassionate supporters like you, true transformation isn't just possible, it’s already taking shape.
I am not dependent now. I can provide for my children with dignity. God has turned my tears into hope, and now I want to bring hope to other mothers.
Long term transformation that equips people to lead change in their own communities is what Tearfund’s partners do best. They meet people where they are at, removing the barriers to what they need to make sustainable changes which helps them to realise their God-given dignity and potential.
The Diocese of Hyderabad provided a holistic, community-based approach, developing Miran’s confidence in an array of areas, including:
Miran’s goal now is to maintain her income so her children can stay in school, her debt can be fully repaid and her family’s living conditions continue to improve.
For Miran, transformation was moving from survival to instilling hope in others:
“I believe God chose me through this project to serve women like myself. Every safe birth I help is a reminder that my painful journey now has a purpose. Sharing my story gives me strength and hope that other women will never give up.”
May Miran’s journey be a deep encouragement to you. As you step into God’s great story of restoration, whether through praying, giving or speaking up, you are helping reclaim people’s God-given dignity, preparing their path for something new, hopefilled and truly transformational.
This Christmas, your gift can help bring life in all its fullness to those who need it most.
Related projects have received support from the Australian Government through the Australian NGO Cooperation Program (ANCP).
